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Six years custody for school fire | Six years custody for school fire |
(about 6 hours later) | |
An 18-year-old man found guilty of an arson attack which caused £8m damage to a Swansea comprehensive school has been sentenced to six years custody. | |
Jonathan Giles had previously been found guilty of setting fire to Penyrheol school in Gorseinon in March. | |
The blaze, which is thought to have started in a bag of paper meant for recycling, destroyed 40 classrooms. | The blaze, which is thought to have started in a bag of paper meant for recycling, destroyed 40 classrooms. |
Giles, from the Loughor area, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court. | Giles, from the Loughor area, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court. |
He had admitted burglary at the school but denied arson, blaming it on his co-defendant James Green, who was cleared of the charge by a jury in October. | |
The whole family feel terrible about what's happened Jonathan Giles' mother, Leiza | |
The fire, which was started early on 18 March, was so ferocious that it was too dangerous for fire crews to enter the school. | |
It continued for several hours, causing extensive damage. | |
Only two classrooms and an annex remained and many pupils lost course work in the blaze. | |
Giles' mother, Leiza Giles, expressed her remorse for her son's actions outside the court. | |
She said: "The devastation was awful. The whole family feel terrible about what's happened." | |
The damage caused by the fire is currently estimated at £8m, but Swansea Council believes the final repair bill is likely to be double that. |
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